My Jewelry Studio

If you are interested in what my jewelry studio looks like,
this is the page. I can be found here most days - and nights.
My friends have mentioned, casually, that designing jewelry,
making it and taking care of my website are close to obsessions.
They are probably right, but I prefer to call it my passion.

Besides the pictures of my studio I'd like to
introduce you to my shop companions and studio companions
- Robert,
Gracie
and Vern
and my newest friends Muffin
(shown with his best friend, cousin and sometimes nemesis,
Sasha)
and, last but certainly not least, Fred.

The diagram shows how the room is laid out with
the main work areas. Photographs, further down, are numbered
to match the diagram.

I'm a pack rat, I keep everything that might
come in handy someday and all that "stuff" is packed
into nooks and crannies around my studio and on shelves above
my benches.

My swivel chair, with wheels, is in the middle
so I can just turn or roll the chair a foot or so and get
to most places in my studio without having to get up.

Most jewelers use a special piece of furniture
for working on jewelry. It is like a desk, but the work area
is higher from the ground and there are especially built drawers
and shelves. These benches can be purchased from many jewelry
supply houses and range in cost from $250 to $1000.

I prefer a chest high bench to a jeweler's bench
for a couple reasons. I have a problem with bursitis
and resting my arms/elbows on the bench or the chair arms
helps to prevent a painful attack. I also like to keep my
tools on the bench or above me hanging from peg boards. A
jeweler's bench is wonderful for storage of tools, but where
would I put all this other "stuff" I collect?

You'll notice there is a TV and VCR on the right
and just above my bench. This is because I often work
late at night and into the wee hours of the morning, which
is when I get most of my inspiration. Having the TV or
a movie running on the VCR keeps me company.

My shop companions: Robert
my tenacious Rotty, Gracie
my affectionate and ever alert golden lab, Vern,
the oldest of all, who is without a doubt the most stubborn,
bullheaded, obstinate and intractable 17 year old beagle mix
on the planet, plus Muffy,
and Fred,
They are always with me in the shop so I can take a break
and play 'fetch' or 'tug-of-war".

Click the pictures to see
a larger image with more detail of the areas.

This is where I do most design work, stone
setting, sawing, filing, sanding, and hand texturing.

There are drawers of finished stones and cabochons, small
hand tools, rules, reference books, findings and a whole raft
of paraphernalia.

I'm a tool junkie as well as a stone junkie so there never
seems to be enough room and that's why the shelves above the
benches go almost to the ceiling so I have enough storage
space to hold all those seldom used "necessities".

The bench on the right, is where I do soldering and handwork
with the flex shaft. More tools and supplies and more shelves
full of "stuff" are above this bench, as well.

I never had enough room for this before and always had to
clean up an area just so I could pack and send off a newly
made piece of jewelry. It is wonderful to have a special place
for all those mailing labels, boxes and bubble wrap.

The last picture, is of my new office and beading
room. A
whole room just for an office, what a luxury!

There was enough room here, so I added several
bookcases to hold beads and beading supplies and a table where,
some day (I hope), to do more beading.

I have wonderful beads left over from when I
first started making jewelry - African trade beads, sterling
silver Bali beads, gemstone beads plus wood, brass, bone and
even some glass beads.

There isn't a picture, but the polishing room is another
luxury this new studio offers. No more mess from polishing
compounds. The polisher is vented outside and my whole studio
stays much cleaner now!

Studio "Security Team" - Five of My Best Friends

Click on their pictures to read about their playful and sometimes
frustrating antics,
like Vern getting the left over Thanksgiving turkey one year.

Please help feed hungry dogs and cats in shelters across
the country. This program was started by 12 year old Mimi
Ausland from Bend, Oregon. By clicking the logos when visiting
freekibble.com and/or freekibblekat.com kibble is donated
to help feed stray and rescued animals.